Ralph Lauren quietly shuttered its two-year-old 20,000-square-foot store last week. Other brands are expected to close boutiques in a city that has lost its luster for cash-rich mainland Chinese tourists.

A spokesperson for the colorful business titan told WWD that he sold his Paris jewel, the Ritz hotel, to Qatari investors.

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ?: Mohamed Al-Fayed has squelched speculation in Paris that he sold his Paris jewel, the Ritz hotel, to Qatari investors. A spokesperson for the colorful business titan told WWD “the rumors are unfounded. Mr. Al-Fayed has not sold the Ritz Paris.”

A Paris-based spokesman for the famed institution on the Place Vendôme also denied it had changed hands: “The Ritz has not been sold and the Ritz is not for sale.”

In 2010, Al-Fayed ended his 25-year rein at Harrods by selling the landmark British retailer to Qatar Holding, an investment company linked to the royal family of the Gulf state, for 1.5 billion pounds, or $2.22 billion at current exchange, including about 600 million pounds, or $888 million, in property-backed debt.

A spokesman for Qatar Holdings had no comment Thursday about the Ritz rumor.

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@rebeccaminkoff is bringing self-checkout to high fashion: The brand has partnered with @queuehop to bring its customers self-checkout options, beginning this holiday season at its SoHo store. (📷: @aurorarosephoto)